Best Time to Visit Japan: A Month-by-Month Guide
When to visit Japan, month by month: cherry blossoms, autumn leaves, festivals, rainy season and typhoons, plus the quietest and cheapest times to go.
Quick answer
- Best overall: late March to May and October to November, for mild weather and seasonal colour.
- Cherry blossoms: late March to early April in Tokyo and Kyoto.
- Autumn leaves: mid November to early December in Tokyo and Kyoto.
- Cheapest and quietest: January to early March, and early June, outside the holidays.
- Times to avoid if you can: Golden Week in early May, Obon in mid August and New Year.
There is no bad time to visit Japan, only different trips. Spring and autumn are the classic seasons, with soft weather and famous scenery, but they are also the busiest and most expensive. Winter brings snow, clear Fuji views and low prices, and summer is all festivals and fireworks.
Japan month by month
| Month | Weather in Tokyo and Kyoto | Highlights | Crowds and prices |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Cold and dry, 2 to 10C | New Year shrine visits, skiing, clear Fuji views | Busy to 3 January, then quiet |
| February | Cold, 3 to 11C | Sapporo Snow Festival, plum blossoms, snow monkeys | Quiet, good value |
| March | Cool, 6 to 15C | First cherry blossoms late in the month | Busy from mid March |
| April | Mild, 10 to 20C | Cherry blossoms in early April, then in the north | Very busy, peak prices |
| May | Warm, 15 to 24C | Fresh green, wisteria, festivals | Golden Week in early May is packed |
| June | Warm and wet, 19 to 27C | Rainy season, hydrangeas, fireflies | Quiet, good value |
| July | Hot and humid, 23 to 32C | Gion Matsuri in Kyoto, Mount Fuji climbing season, fireworks | Busy from late July |
| August | Hot and humid, 24 to 33C | Summer festivals and fireworks, Obon | Very busy around mid August |
| September | Warm, 20 to 29C | Fewer crowds, start of autumn | Quiet, typhoon risk |
| October | Mild, 14 to 23C | Comfortable weather, festivals, first leaves in Hokkaido | Busy |
| November | Cool, 9 to 18C | Autumn leaves in Kyoto and Tokyo | Very busy late in the month |
| December | Cold, 4 to 13C | Late leaves in early December, winter illuminations | Quiet until the New Year rush |
Our tip: Temperatures are typical daytime ranges for Tokyo and Kyoto. Hokkaido is much colder and Okinawa much warmer.
Spring: cherry blossom season
Cherry blossoms open in late March in Tokyo and Kyoto and last about a week at their best. They reach Tohoku in mid April and Hokkaido in early May, so a late trip can still catch them further north.
- The Japan Meteorological Corporation and others publish forecasts from January.
- Book hotels three to four months ahead for late March and early April.
- Golden Week, from about 29 April to 5 May, is when Japanese families travel. Trains and hotels fill up.
Summer: festivals and heat
Summer is hot and sticky, with highs above 30C in most cities. It is also the season of fireworks, street food and some of Japan's biggest festivals, including the Gion Matsuri in Kyoto in July.
- The rainy season runs from early June to mid July on Honshu. It rains often, but rarely all day.
- Hokkaido is the coolest escape, with lavender fields in July.
- Typhoons are most likely from August to September. They can delay flights and ferries for a day or two.
- Obon, in mid August, is another busy holiday week.
Autumn: leaves and comfortable weather
October and November are many people's favourite months. The air is clear, the temperature is pleasant and the maple leaves turn red and gold, starting in Hokkaido in late September and reaching Kyoto in mid to late November.
- Kyoto is at its busiest in the second half of November.
- Nikko, the Japan Alps and Hakone peak earlier, usually in October or early November.
- Early December still has good colour in Tokyo and Kyoto with fewer crowds.
Winter: snow, onsen and low prices
Winter is underrated. Skies are often clear, Mount Fuji is at its most visible and hotel prices drop after the New Year holiday. It is the season for powder snow in Hokkaido and Nagano, the Sapporo Snow Festival and the snow monkeys bathing in hot springs.
- Many shops, museums and restaurants close from about 29 December to 3 January.
- Shrines are packed on 1 to 3 January for the first prayers of the year.
- Days are short, with sunset around 4:30pm in Tokyo.
The best time for your trip
| If you want | Go in |
|---|---|
| Cherry blossoms | Late March to early April |
| Autumn leaves | Mid November to early December |
| The best weather | May, October and early November |
| Low prices and few crowds | January to early March, June, September |
| Snow and skiing | January and February |
| Festivals and fireworks | July and August |
| Clear views of Mount Fuji | November to February |
Our tip: Our itinerary maker adds seasonal notes for the month you choose, such as rainy season or leaf timing.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best month to visit Japan?
April and November are the most popular, for cherry blossoms and autumn leaves. May and October give great weather with slightly fewer crowds.
When is the cheapest time to visit Japan?
January to early March, outside the New Year and Chinese New Year, and June during the rainy season.
When is cherry blossom season in Japan?
Late March to early April in Tokyo and Kyoto. Further north it comes in mid April to early May.
Is it worth visiting Japan in summer?
Yes, if you can handle the heat. Summer has the best festivals and fireworks, and Hokkaido stays pleasantly cool.
We check this guide regularly. Prices, rules and services in Japan can change, so confirm with the official sources below before you travel. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
